Marketplace for March 19, 2008

Segments From This Episode

• Stearns investors bear a grudge

  by Marketplace Staff

  The JPMorgan buyout of Bear Stearns seems to have appeased the markets, but it also angered many Stearns shareholders. Now some are suing, claiming Stearns execs hid the firm's true financial condition and failed to properly manage risk. Bob Moon reports.

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• Fannie, Freddie regulations eased

  by John Dimsdale

  The federal government already raised the limit on loans mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can underwrite. Today's move to relax capital requirements on loans is designed to quickly free up $200 billion in more financing. John Dimsdale reports.

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• Mortgage rates rise despite Fed cuts

  by Jeremy Hobson

  Though the Fed cut interest rates dramatically, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate has gone up since the beginning of January. Jeremy Hobson reports why banks aren't interested in dropping rates for long-term loans.

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• Accounting for the Iraq war

  by Kai Ryssdal

  After five years in the war in Iraq, estimates of the monetary costs range from several hundred billion dollars to trillions of dollars. Kai Ryssdal talks to University of Chicago economics professor Steven Davis about how to truly assess the cost of the war.

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• Will Vermont cash in by selling lottery?

  by Marketplace Staff

  Many states are struggling with lean budgets this year. Now Vermont's governor wants to make ends meet by selling or leasing the state's lottery to a private company. But some lawmakers worry about the long-term effect of giving up control of a state money-making asset. John Dillon reports.

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• Forgetful Fed repeats errors of the past

  by Marketplace Staff

  Just like today, the early 1970s were also a time of accelerated inflation and rising commodities prices. Commentator David Frum says the Fed is now repeating the mistakes it made in the early '70s — mistakes which ultimately led to a recession.

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• Critical condition: Nurse shortage peaks

  by Ashley Milne-Tyte

  More than one-third of nurses born during the baby boom plan to retire or change jobs sometime in the next three years. Add in the chronic shortage of nurses already, and hospitals could be left in critical condition. Ashley Milne Tyte reports.

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• March Madness drives employers crazy

  by Stacey Vanek Smith

  

  For the first year ever, college hoops fans can catch all of the men's NCAA Division I tournament live on the Web — great news for fans stuck at work, but employers are likely to see a major drop in productivity. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports on how one company is dealing with the mania.

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